Friday, May 7, 2010

Melbourne Jewish (!?) Radio - Spiritgrow supports Chillul Shabbat?

The following advertisement appears in this week's AJN:
24/7 = Jewish radio??

Now is the time for our rabbis to begin combatting this latest attack on the Shabbat!

And Shuls, Chabad Houses, and observant Jews must warn the organisers that they will not offer their support for a Chillul Shabbat project.

Finally a question to rabbis Wolf:
How can you allow this to take place in Spiritgrow?
We are not talking about some chassidish chumrah here which we could understand if you overlooked. "Zachor et Yom Hashabat leKadsho" is one of the Aseret Hadibrot.

42 comments:

  1. CONSTITUTION OF MELBOURNE JEWISH RADIO INC

    38 Broadcasting
    38.1 The Association shall broadcast programmes at such times and with such frequency as the Committee may determine from time to time but in no event shall it broadcast on:
    38.1.1 Shabbat;
    38.1.2 Rosh Hashana;
    38.1.3 Yom Kippur
    unless it shall be on such terms and conditions as shall be determined by a Rabbi nominated by the Council of Orthodox Synagogues Victoria (“COSV”)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rabbi Wolf doesn't own the place; he is only renting it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Will the C.O.S.V. attend this "round table discussion"?

    ReplyDelete
  4. If Mikey is that well acquainted with this radio idea can he explain how and why they advertise themselves as broadcasting 24/7?

    ReplyDelete
  5. And what about the other Yomim Tovim - Shavuot, Peasch and Sukkot?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Chenyok, when you rent a place it is your responsibility to ensure that that halacha is complied with

    ReplyDelete
  7. Interesting comments about the 24/7 for this radio station. I wasn't aware that Melbourne's Jewish population observed being religiously Jewish 24/7 and some statistics would be interesting. Some 40,000 Jews in Melbourne - how many go to shul on a regular basis? How many keep kosher homes? Jews exist beyond religious domination and don't adhere to religious holidays. Some Jews are actually ATHEISTS!!!! Oi vey!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't know where Mikey Bear gets his information , but their website clearly states that they will be broadcasting prerecorded programmes on Shabbat.
    Perhaps Mikey Bear can therefore confirm that this is by agreement from a nominated member of the COSV , and name said person.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mikey Bear - who is the rabbi that has permitted them to broadcast on Shabbos?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mikey - who is the rabbi who condones broadcasting on Shabbat?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love how everyone is ASSUMING that the station is/will be Mechalel Shabbos.

    Perhaps the best thing would be to get in touch with someone from the station to ask this question before shooting from the mouth, hip or general other location without proper information.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jen, best you ask the station directly as I have no connection to it. I just browsed their web site and quoted from their constitution.

    ReplyDelete
  13. "........unless it shall be on such terms........by a Rabbi nominated by the COSV........"
    We would really like an explanation from Mr Korbl - President of the COSV.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It is clear from the above that the COSV and one of its Rabbis condone the broadcasting of pre-recorded programmes on Shabbat on the newly established Jewish Radio Station.
    Those who are Shomer Shabbat should protest in the strongest terms to the COSV and this Rabbi, and refrain from any financial support for this Chilul Shabbat venture.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What "Orthodox" Rabbi could put his signature on this?
    38.1 The Association shall broadcast programmes at such times and with such frequency as the Committee may determine from time to time but in no event shall it broadcast on:
    38.1.1 Shabbat;
    38.1.2 Rosh Hashana;
    38.1.3 Yom Kippur
    unless it shall be on such terms and conditions as shall be determined by a Rabbi nominated by the Council of Orthodox Synagogues Victoria (“COSV”)

    ReplyDelete
  16. So has the COSV approved of this:

    >>> Programme Schedule

    The programming schedule for station start-up is online at the website It is notable that the station will transmit only pre-recorded material over the sabbath. Live broadcasting Monday to Friday ...<<<

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Jewish_Radio#cite_note-2

    ReplyDelete
  17. OK, what's the betting that "yeh shabbes - nit shabbes" Chabad will be on that radio station?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dear Ajnwatch

    I have only found your site a couple of days ago and am slowly weaving my way through ALL your posts (and comments). It's a labour of love and will take me a week or 2.

    However, I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving Melbourne - and indeed - Australian orthodox Jewry - a voice.

    A voice that talks without the PC-ish nonsense that we so often hear from Orthodox leadership, who know better but are afraid to state the genuine truth for fear of offending those who have no such fear in attacking and offending us and the holy Torah.

    You are doing Avodas Hakodesh including fighting for our holy Shabbos in exposing the new chilul shabbos radio [and demanding an explanation from rabbi wolf of spiritgrow] and also the besen centre chilul shabbos matter.

    Keep it up and Chazak ve'amatz

    Leah K.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Malki - no one is assuming anything.
    They quite clearly state : ".....It is notable that the station will transmit only pre-recorded material over the sabbath.....".

    ReplyDelete
  20. A little off topic, but I was trying to find out more about Melbourne Jewish Radio/Lion FM. From what I can see there is absolutely nothing about the station on the ACMA web site. I can't find it in a search of license holders (or via the frequency, ABN, etc etc), and I can't see it in the list of stations who have currently been allocated a Temporary Community Broadcast License.

    The AJN announced the station had been allocated a licence back in March this year so you'd think an ACMA document from April listing current temporary licences would contain the MJR/Lion license details.

    Curious.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Does anyone know which member/s of the COSV approved this ?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Further to my previous comment, ACMA advise:

    "The apparatus licence for the frequency has not yet been issued. The service is not due to begin until June this year. Application details are not available to the public, when the licence is issued it will be visible on the ACMA’s online Register of Radiocommunications Licences"

    ReplyDelete
  23. hey zealots! i took the trouble to speak to the organizers of this station and they have said outright that it is not going to be open on shbbat. not only that but they are in constant contact with local rabbanim to workout how to deal with the various problems that may arise. so before slander check!

    why not go to their meeting and ask them. ask the rabbis wolf. ask someone before you publish this, it opens you up to serious legal defamation issues. fools.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Tommy stop being so outraged. Their ad in the AJN clearly said that they will be broadcasting 24/7 as does thi statement of theirs:

    >>> Programme Schedule
    >>> the station will transmit only pre-recorded material over the sabbath. ...<<<

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Jewish_Radio#cite_note-2

    ReplyDelete
  25. You mean you never use the expression 24/7 figuratively? And if someone has any doubt about a Jew isn't there a halocho to check it out before rushing into defaming print? And if now you discover that you were wrong in fact, isn't it ocrrect to do Teshuva and ask Mechilo? And if you are frum, then doesn't Perek say "Geder LeChochmo Shetiko"? And have you set a good example for the non frum people reading your lines? And if your strtegy is to improve a perceived Matzav and help correct it then aren't you actually doing the opposite? Schneur

    ReplyDelete
  26. manfred, how many orthodox websites operate on shabbat, how many radio stations in israel operate on shabat (and have religious participation during the week from many respected rabbanim in israel)are you going to say that they are condoning chilul shabbat?

    ajnwatch sounds like a bigoted, closed minded, naive person who has more emotion than intellectual ability. all i am saying is find out whether they are speaking to rabbanim and then question them (if you mob are so smart and learned and realy know the complex halachot of technology on shabbat) dont knock the station and bad mouth other people.

    ReplyDelete
  27. yes tommy anyone who in any way offers any support to a radio station broadcsting on shabbat is condining chilul shabbat. I don't know who ajnwatch is is but you definitely sound like someone who doesn't care much for shabbat and mitzvot

    ReplyDelete
  28. Tommy: ajnwatch sounds like a bigoted, closed minded, naive person who has more emotion than intellectual ability.

    Hi Tommy, I am a newbie here and have spent the past days going through the many posts on this blog.

    I have found some amazing news items which I haven't seen elsewhere, humourous commentary and indeed a some vigourous defence of genuine Judaism. That last item is sorely lacking in our communities with rabbis and organisations prefering to shrug their shoulders rather than address issues that are of supreme importance to Torah-observant Jews.

    Ajnwatch is going a long way to try a fill this gap and for this they should be supported and congratulated. Illok forward to reading their further posts

    ReplyDelete
  29. Schneur - that 24/7 was not 'figurative' (whatever that means).That is how they advertised in the Jewish News and they clearly state that they will have prerecorded broadcasting on Shabbat.

    There are enough rabbis and frum apologists around who 'set good examples' tp the irreligous, but very few who are brave enough to clearly state the Torah view. Ajnwatch aim is to be a vigourous defender of torah and the torah observant community. We sure need it here. Let's back it rather than criticise

    ReplyDelete
  30. oh manfred i just realised what an am haaretz you are. you would probably call r' moshe feinstin modern and somewhat problematic if he lived today. you evidently have not done your research. shame.

    i will be sure to let the many of the black hat rabanim who speak on galatz and appear on chanel 2 (israel) and write for the chiloni websites in israel that they have contravened some obscure halachah that only a blogger named manfred knows about.

    and you dont sound like one who would accept a less religeous jew as a brother.

    ReplyDelete
  31. stupid argument (dovid for short)Thursday, May 13, 2010 9:55:00 PM

    couldnt help but notice the ad on the side of my page filled with non jewish half exposed girls for zoosk dating. according to the ajnwatch logic he is condoning intermarriage!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dovid, you mak a good point. Unfortunately we have no control over the types of advertisements placed on our blog.

    Therefore we shall try and get rid of them altogether.

    ReplyDelete
  33. well done ajnwatch, the ads have disappeared!
    hope you aren't losing too much money by deleting them

    ReplyDelete
  34. I agree with Leah K. AJNwatch has far more interesting stuff that most other Jerwish blogs that I frequent. And I particularly enjoy thei comments on the Australian scene. So keep it up for all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Dovid Sher (ex melbourne)Friday, May 14, 2010 10:39:00 AM

    ajnwatch you missed my point and cynicism- you dont need to remove the add halachikly, i am showing you how obsurd your theory is. this has been discussed by dozerns of poskim- ad services like google etc (which do not lead to mamash asur websites) are not your responsibility. it is up to the (internet) user to control themselves it is not even lifnei iver. you could barely even call it midah chasidus- hamodia chumrah maybe (but then again hamodiah style people arent aloud internet full stop)- perhaps you should subscribe to hydepark to realy see fum/torah blogging

    but the fact that you removed the ad is impressive but highlights the fact that you do not use halachah to back your position rather new age chumrah (which can not justify loss of income).

    based on this i can only say you (your blog) represent chumrah based judaism not halachah based judaism. that does not give you the right to always criticize those who do not live up to your standards.

    i find that some of your posts i agree with (though i find you negative, attitude wise) but sometimes i feel you are short of the mark. in this case i dont know what spiritgrows agenda is here (they opened up after i left melbourne), but to say that they condone chilul shabbos is a little far fetched. perhaps in your very strict arena it is unsettling but not contravening torah.

    i am more distraught by the number of people on this blog who enjoy keeping the rabbanim straight and apreciate your fine work- when in truth this blog doesnt have much credibility or respect due to the faceless accusers who write and comment. no face/name no credibility or respect

    as everyone else here (who is enjoying the circus) has written, keep up the good work... in attempting to be mechalel shem hashem befar hesye with all the fremde who read this as well.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Dovid, I don't think you are correct. AJNWATCH has done the right thing by getting rid of inappropriate advertising. And as indeed Ajnwatch has done in the past and blasted the Jewish News for publicising chilul shabbos and chazir tref establishments - so too should this blog be careful on what it allows to be advertised.

    And the same goes for spiritgrow which amongst its various functions runs a shul - presumably orthodox. As such it's rabbis who are chasidim should not be assiting in chilul shabbos. I wouldve thought that was quite obvious and understandable by all.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Dovid shaer writes: in attempting to be mechalel shem hashem befar hesye with all the fremde who read this as well.
    >>
    With the greatest respect to you what you wrote is a pure garbage and a falsification of the Torah. Chazel tell us 'bemokom sheyesh chilul Hashem ein cholkin kavod larav' which means you must attack and criticise issues of chilul hashem. Thus when a rabbinically approved mechalel shabbos issue arises there is no kavod harav.
    Fremde or no fremde.

    The whole Torah is full of statements that may embarrass you before fremde. So you want to hide the torah? What kind of nonsense are you preaching?

    this blog is doing a great job in articulating the views of many frum australian families whose voice has been unheard for a long time. Besides a few brave rabbis (I especially commend Rabbi Ingram) and individuals, one rarely hears the voice of orthodox protesters. I don;t recall a single rabbi's complaint to teh AJN when they so despicably tried to destroy a rabbis reputation or when they did all in their power to damage a community because of one bad apple there. Had this blog been around, maybe there would have been some response.

    Personally I feel that the jewish news has in the past months treated frum issues with a bit more respect and presume that this blog may be part of the reason for it. (And possibly their new editor should be given some of the credit)

    But Dovid in your way of thinking frum Jews should just sit back and cop it in the face.

    I say, you are very vey wrong. Fight fire with fire

    ReplyDelete
  38. manfred and co, waht will you do if the lion station come out with a psak for a leading rav/rabbanim that they have worked out a method to broadcast prerecorded on shabbat- due to the constraints of the radio station?

    will there be a public apology?

    what happens when three or four prominent rabbanim in melbourne end up on the radio station- are ytou going to call for their heads?

    when will someone on this blog actualy cite a source for the transgressions that lion fm are commiting?

    i now realise that this blog is not a place for me as it gets me riled up. it anoyes me that people are so one sided and choose not to investigate before laying accusations.

    ReplyDelete
  39. tommy, no way there's going to come a psak from rabbis allowing shabbat broadcasting. That is unless you hold the reform clergy to be 'rabbis'. Yes I know that they allow many questionable things, but they wouldn't dare to go that far.

    Anyway it would be interesting to see who the radios rabbis are and then we'll discuss the other matters.

    I am no rabbi, so I'll leave source-citing to them. But maris ayin comes up immediately.
    Jewish radio broadcasting in whatever way looks very bad.

    ReplyDelete
  40. if this blog riles up Tommy and his mates, it shows what a great job is being done.
    The community needs rilers and rilees and me personally am happy that ajn watch is a riles

    ReplyDelete
  41. tommy - Kedushas Shabbos and Shemiras Shabbos and 'working out a method to broadcast prerecorded on Shabbat....' as you have stated, are not synonymous. If the radio station has constraints, so be it. We expect our Rabbonim to uphold the Shabbos and not to look for loopholes, especially from an organization that blatantly also states in their constitution that they will broadcast on Yom Tov.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Further to our receipt of a response from Lion FM which we have posted, there will be no further comments accepted for this post.

    If you have something to say, please do so here: http://tinyurl.com/2e5vlo7 .

    ReplyDelete

Comments will be moderated for language and content.
Please use your name/nickname - rather than 'anonymous'.